High School Football

The SEC dominates National Signing Day seemingly every year. This page will be updated throughout the day. Here are how the teams look right now:

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Commitments: 24, 5*: 3, 4*: 19, 3*: 1, Other: 1

Nick Saban has assembled another great class. Athlete Dylan Moses (who will most likely play linebacker), offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood and running back Najee Harris are some of the best players for the Tide. Harris is supremely talented, but it is a loaded backfield that may not offer much playing time. Alabama recruited a lot of offensive play-makers this season. There a lot of good recruits still considering Alabama.

Top Prospects Signed: ATH Dylan Moses (5*), RB Najee Harris (5*)

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Committed: 26, 5*: 4, 4*: 17, 3*: 5, Other: 0

Kirby Smart has put together a great first full class for the Bulldogs. Offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson and Safety Richard LeCounte are among the best players in the class. In the next few years, Georgia should be dominant in the trenches and well on their way to SEC East superiority.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Isaiah Wilson (5*), S Richard LeCounte (5*)

3. LSU Tigers

Committed: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 16, 3*: 7, Other: 0

In Ed Oregeron’s first class, he has helped LSU stay prominent in recruiting. He has a lot of secondary and quarterback help on the way. Corner Kary Vincent is one the best players in the class for the Tigers. Quarterbacks Lowell Narcisse and Myles Brennan have different styles, but should help out with LSU’s offensive struggles.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Austin Deculus (4*), CB Kary Vincent (4*)

4. Texas A&M Aggies

Committed: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 9, 3*: 15, Other: 0

The Aggies have a lot of players coming in this class. Quarterback Kellen Mond is a highly touted player and may get a chance to get on the field, with all of the transfers out of College Station. He leads a class with a lot of wide receivers. Linebacker Anthony Hines is going to be a difference-maker for the Aggie defense.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Kellen Mond (4*), LB Anthony Hinds (4*)

5. Auburn Tigers

Committed: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 11, 3: 7, Other: 3

The Tigers have a good recruiting class, which they will be expecting to help win the SEC West with. Former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham will be joining the Tigers from JuCo and will hopefully solve the issues at the position. Their best offensive line recruit Calvin Ashley is a tackle who will be looking to get on the field from day one.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Calvin Ashley (4*), QB Jarrett Stidham (4*)

6. Tennessee Volunteers

Committed: 27, 5*: 1, 4*: 6, 3*: 20, Other: 0

Butch Jones has put together yet another impressive recruiting class. Five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith is one of the best in the class and will likely start the season as a starter. Linebacker Maleik Gray will help out with some of the losses they suffer on defense.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Trey Smith (5*), LB Maleik Gray (4*)

7. Florida Gators

Committed: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 13, 3*: 6, Other: 1

Florida has struggled to find good offense, but they don’t have too many skill position players in this class. They need to hit on the ones they did sign. Their best recruit is offensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton, which should help the offense out. Wide receiver Daquon Green is going to have to step up and be the play-maker Florida so desperately needs.

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

Committed: 21, 5*:0, 4*: 9, 3*: 11, Other: 1

Will Muschamp is doing a great job of recruiting for South Carolina. Corner Jameyst Williams is committed, but may be flipped. He will help out a secondary that isn’t near the top in the SEC. Shi Smith will give the Gamecocks a weapon at the wide receiver position.

Top Prospects Signed: CB Jamyest Winston (4*), WR Shi Smith (4*)

9. Kentucky Wildcats

Committed: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 5, 3*: 18, Other: 1

Mark Stoops helped the Wildcats be one of the most improved teams in the country. The defense wasn’t great, so Kentucky emphasized that in this recruiting class. Secondary players Yusuf Corker and Tyrell Ajian will both be expected to produce in the coming years.

Top Prospects Signed: CB Yusuf Corker (4*), S Tyrell Ajian (4*)

10. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Committed: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 10, 3*: 13, Other: 0

The Bulldogs got a bowl win, but it was a lackluster season otherwise. Coming into the fold will be a lot of defensive players. Brian Cole and Montez Sweat are both JuCo players who will likely help the Bulldogs immediately.

Top Prospects Signed: S Brian Cole (4*), DE Montez Sweat (4*)

11. Arkansas Razorbacks

Committed: 26, 5*: 0, 4*: 8, 3*: 15, Other: 3

Arkansas doesn’t have the best class, but they targeted a lot of offensive players in the class. Brandon Martin is a great JuCo wide receiver that will catch passes from Austin Allen next season. Quarterback Daulton Hyatt is expected to be the future leader of the team.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Brandon Martin (4*), Daulton Hyatt (4*)

12. Missouri Tigers

Committed: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 0, 3*: 20, Other: 3

Missouri doesn’t look like they will be in an SEC Championship Game any time soon. Defensive line has been a huge target for this class. Defensive tackles Walter Palmore and Rashad Brandon both are great hauls for the Tigers.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Taylor Powell (3*), Rashad Brandon (3*)

13. Ole Miss

Committed: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 8, 3*: 11, Other: 2

Ole miss is usually a lot higher in these rankings as of late, but this year was a down year for recruiting. Wide receiver D.D. Bowie and Linebacker Breon Dixon are both great finds for Ole Miss.

Top Prospects Signed: OLB Breon Dixon (4*), WR D.D. Bowie (4*)

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

Committed: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 1, 3*: 13, Other: 6

The Commodores find themselves in a familiar position at the bottom of this list. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and linebacker Colin Anderson will need to help make the Vanderbilt defense elite to win football games.

The Pac-12 is on their way back to prominence, with USC’s resurgence and Washington making the College Football Playoff. With that has come better recruiting classes. This page will be updated throughout the day. Here is how the Pac-12 Signing Day is going:

1. USC Trojans

Commitments: 19, 5*: 1, 4*: 7, 3*: 10, Other: 1

Clay Helton has started getting USC back to prominence by recruiting well. Running back Stephen Carr is their only five-star commit, but may not get too many carries early in his career. Linebacker Levi Jones choosing the Trojans on Signing Day was a huge coup. Joseph Lewis will help fill the void at receiver left by JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dareus Rogers and Adoree’ Jackson.

Top Prospects Signed: RB Stephen Carr (4*), WR Joseph Lewis (5*)

2. Stanford Cardinal

Commitments: 14, 5*: 1, 4*: 8, 3*: 5, Other: 0

The Cardinal have a lot of elite prospects this season that should help them compete with Washington for the Pac 12 North. Quarterback Davis Mills has to have Cardinal fans excited as he fills a huge need and is a great prospect. Two five-star tackles will be tasked with protecting him in Foster Sarrell and Walker Little.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Foster Sarrell (*5), TE Colby Parkinson (4*)

3. UCLA Bruins

Commitments: 18, 5*: 2, 4*: 4, 3*: 11, Other: 1

UCLA always has talented players, but they are well on their way to putting together one of the best recruiting classes of all time. They have a great pass rusher in Jaelen Phillips, who is a five-star prospect. Another five-star is corner back Darnay Holmes. Both should help replace a lot of talent lost in the past few years on the defense.

Top Prospects Signed: OLB Jaelen Phillips (5*), Darnay Holmes (5*)

4. Washington Huskies

Commitments: 17, 5*: 0, 4*: 6, 3*: 11, Other: 0

Chris Peterson got the Huskies to the College Football Playoff and has now put together a good recruiting class to get back to that stage. Running back Salvon Ahmed is the best player in the class so far for the Huskies, but may not see the field too early in his career with Myles Gaskin there. Their recruiting is centralized on getting prospects from Oregon, Washington and California.

Top Prospects Signed: RB Salvon Ahmend (4*), OT Henry Bainvalu (4*)

5. Oregon Ducks

Commitments: 19, 5*: 0, 4*: 6, 3*: 13, Other: 0

Oregon has a lot of problems, but the main one is defense. They signed a good corner in Thomas Graham to help out with that problem. The Ducks also have their athletes that the always sign to help make their team, most likely offense, a lot better.

Top Prospects Signed: CB Thomas Graham (4*), ATH Jaylon Redd (4*)

6. Arizona State Sun Devils

Commitments: 18, 5*: 0, 4*: 6, 3*: 10, Other: 2

Arizona State needs to have a good recruiting class to get back on track. Quarterback Blake Barnett formerly played at Alabama, then went to JuCo, and is now moving to Tempe. He was a coveted player before and still has a lot of potential. Corner back Alex Perry should help revamp the defense.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Blake Barnett (4*), CB Alex Perry (4*)

7. Colorado Buffaloes

Commitments: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 7, 3*: 14, Other: 2

The Buffaloes followed up a successful season with a better recruiting class than they are used to. They have a lot of commitments, but Jake Moretti and Grant Polley are some of the best players in the class so far. Both should bolster the offensive line for Colorado.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Jake Moretti (4*), OG Grant Polley (4*)

8. Utah Utes

Commitments: 13, 5*: 0, 4*: 3, 3*: 10, Other: 0

Kyle Whittingham has successfully recruited a lot of JuCo players. Their best JuCo prospect is guard Jordan Agisava, who is one of the best in the class. Corner Jaylen Johnson is not a JuCo player, but is the best recruit.

Top Prospects Signed: OG Jordan Agisava (4*), CB Javelin Guidry (4*)

9. Arizona Wildcats

Commitments: 25, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*: 23, Other: 0

Arizona needs to bounce back quickly for Rich Rodriguez. Nathan Tilford is one of the four-star prospects of the class as a running back from Canada. The Wildcats have a well balanced class of both offensive and defensive three-star prospects.

Top Prospects Signed: RB Nathan Tilford (4*), DE Jalen Harris (4*)

10. Oregon State Beavers

Commitments: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 1, 3*: 16, Other: 4

The Beavers don’t look like they will be making huge jumps in the Pac-12 any time soon. They got a great wide receiver recruit in Isaiah Hodgins, who should play immediately. Jake Luton will provide depth at the quarterback position. He leads a predominantly offensive class.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Isaiah Hodgins (4*), QB Jake Luton (3*)

11. Washington State Cougars

Commitments: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*: 17, Other: 2

Mike Leach and the Cougars had a great season this year, but fell short in recruiting. They do have a good quarterback signed in Connor Neville, so it will be interesting to see how he fits in Leach’s system. A lot of offensive players are in the class making Mike Leach happy.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Connor Neville (4*), Anthony White Jr. (4*)

12. California Golden Bears

Commitments: 12, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*:6 , Other: 4

Cal’s late coaching change really hurt their recruiting class. They are getting passed by group of five teams and other lackluster programs. Quarterback Chase Garbers is the best player in the class and gives them a slight bit of hope.

The Big 12 was locked out of the College Football Playoff last season, but the way to get back is through recruiting. This page will be updated today for National Signing Day. Here are how the classes in the Big 12 are looking:

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Signees: 27, 5*: 0, 4*: 17, 3*: 10, Other: 0

The Sooners have leveraged all of their recent success to gain another great recruiting class. Corner back Justin Broiles enrolled early and could help a secondary that isn’t great. Athlete Ryan Jones Should also be able to create an impact early in his career. There will be more good signings for the Sooners throughout the day.

Top Prospects Signed: CB Justin Broiles (4*), RB Trey Sermon (4*)

2. Texas Longhorns

Commitments: 18, 5*: 0, 4*: 7, 3*:11, Other: 0

Texas has the second best class in the Big 12, but it is good, not great nationally. They will need to get some key signees to move up the ranks. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger impressed enough to be invited to the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp. Toneil Carter could see playing time at the wide receiver position early in his career. Tom Herman has a solid recruiting class to build off of.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Toneil Carter (4*), QB Sam Ehlinger (4*)

3. TCU Horned Frogs

Commitments: 19, 5*: 0, 4*: 6, 3*: 8, Other: 4

Gary Patterson’s Horned Frogs were a trendy pick to win the Big 12 last season, but fell short. Fortunately TCU has some recruits to look forward to. Shawn Robinson is a good dual threat quarterback that should be a good fit for TCU’s offense. Jalen Raegor is an exciting wide receiver prospect, who can help recreate the high-powered offense that the Horned Frogs used to have.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Jalen Raegor (4*), OG Wes Harris (4*)

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Commitments: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 4, 3*: 15, Other: 2

Oklahoma State was a few games away from a College Football Playoff appearance. They have a solid recruiting class that should help them maintain their current level of success. Wide receivers Tylan Wallace and Shamond Greenwood are a pair of four star receivers that will catch passes next season. It is an offensive-loaded class for the Cowboys, so Mike Gundy will need to figure a way to outscore all of their opponents, because the defense needs work.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Tylan Wallace (4*), RB Chuba Hubbard (4*)

5. Baylor Bears

Commitments: 27, 5*: 0, 4*: 3, 3*: 24, Other: 0

Matt Rhule has done a fantastic job of turning nothing into something with this recruiting class. Wide receivers are the main coup for the Bears in this class. They have Trestan Ebner and R.J. Snead should both see the field at some point in their careers. Offensive line prospect Xavier Newman is one of the best interior linemen in the class.

Top Prospects Signed: WR R.J. Snead (4*), WR Trestan Ebner (4*)

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Commitments: 18, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*: 16, Other: 0

The Red Raiders are known for their offensive skill positions, but they have a class of good defensive players and offensive linemen. Offensive guard Jack Anderson is a top five guard in the class. Two JuCo corners in Octavious Morgan and Jaylon Lane are great finds for Texas Tech and can help out their bad defense.

Top Prospects Signed: OG Jack Anderson (4*), CB Octavious Morgan (4*)

7. Iowa State Cyclones

Signees: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*: 19, Other: 3

Iowa State targeted a lot of JuCo players for their class. Their class is headed by wide receivers Matthew Eaton and Joshua Johnson, who should have an impact soon after arriving to Aimes.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Matthew Eaton (4*), WR Joshua Johnson (4*)

8. West Virginia Mountaineers

Commitments: 21, 5*: 0, 4*:0, 3*: 20, Other: 1

Dana Holgorsen doesn’t have a talented recruiting class, but has a knack for findins diamonds in the rough. Kelby Wickline is an offensive tackle from JuCo who should get a chance to play. Wide receiver Reggie Roberson is their best skill position prospect.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Kelby Wickline (3*), WR Reggie Roberson (3*)

9. Kansas State Wildcats

Commitments: 19, 5*: 0, 4*: 0, 3*: 14, Other: 5

Bill Snyder has lost his grasp on recruiting. The Wildcats have a couple of defensive ends leading the class in Anthony Payne and Wyatt Hubert. Safety Elijah Walker is a good JuCo safety prospect for the Wildcats. They will need to have some of these players outdo expectations.

Top Prospects Signed: DE Anthony Payne (3*), S Elijah Walker (3*)

10. Kansas Jayhawks

Commitments: 19, 5*: 0, 4*: 1, 3*: 17, Other: 2

The Jayhawks are at the bottom of the Big 12 again. They, with some other struggling teams, have to target a lot of JuCo prospects. Quarterback Peyton Bender is a JuCo guy that they hope pans out. A lot of these three stars will need to be great to help Kansas hop out of the bottom of the Big 12.

The Big Ten was called the best conference by many in the regular season, but faltered in Bowl Season. They will look to pick back up their winning ways on signing day. Big Ten Signing Day should be eventful. This page will be updated as the day goes on. Here is how the Big Ten looks:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Signees: 21, 5*: 2, 4*: 17, 3*: 2, Other: 0

The Buckeyes had a good secondary last season, but some players have left for the NFL. They have two of the best secondary players in the country coming in as five-stars, with Shaun Wade and Jeffrey Okudah. Their class is loaded with players that are top ten in their positions. The class can get even better as the day goes on, but is already elite.

Top Prospects Signed: CB Shaun Wade (5*), S Jeffrey Okudah (5*)

2. Michigan Wolverines

Commitments: 27, 5*: 0, 4*: 25, 3*: 2, Other: 0

Jim Harbaugh has totally revamped Michigan recruiting in his time in Ann Arbor. They don’t have a lot of play-makers that they desperately need, but they did sign a good receiver in Donovan Peoples-Jones. Quarterback Dylan McCaffrey should ring a bell for college football fans, as he is the brother of Christian, but is a good player himself. Michigan has a chance to move up if they can get some key signees today.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Commitments: 19, 5*: 0, 4*: 9, 3*: 10, Other: 0

Penn State has followed up their Rose Bowl season with a good recruiting class. The class is balanced overall, but quarterback Sean Clifford is the best player in the class. He was the most accurate quarterback at the elite 11 camp last summer. Fellow four-star C.J. Thorpe will likely get a chance to play early, as Penn State’s offensive line was banged up a lot this season and isn’t the greatest anyways.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Sean Clifford (4*), OG C.J. Thorpe (4*)

4. Maryland Terrapins

Commitments: 22, 5*: 0, 4*: 7, 3*: 14, Other: 1

D.J. Durkin has put together a great class for Maryland to build on. His approach of targeting New Jersey and the D.C. area has worked. Markquese Bell is an athlete who will likely make an impact early in his career. Running back Anthony McFarland should also be a play-maker for the Terrapins in due time as well. Maryland should take a few steps forward in coming years.

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Commitments: 16, 5*: 0, 4*: 7, 3*: 9, Other: 0

The Cornhuskers have a lot of good offensive prospects coming in this season. Two four-star wide receiver prospects, Tyjon Lindsey and Keyshawn Johnson Jr., and a four-star quarterback, Tristan Gebbia, are the best players for Nebraska so far. Johnson is son of former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson. Nebraska is building off of a good season in 2016.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Tyon Lindsey (4*), QB Tristan Gebbia (4*)

6. Iowa Hawkeyes

Commitments: 17, 5*: 0, 4*: 2, 3*: 15, Other: 0

Iowa has a great player in this class in A.J. Epenesa at the defensive end position. He can compete for a starting job immediately. Tristan Wirfs is also going to Iowa as a very good offensive tackle prospect. Iowa should be good in the trenches again for years to come.

Top Prospects Signed: DE A.J. Epenesa (4*), OT Mark Kallenberger (4*)

7. Michigan State Spartans

Commitments: 20, 5*:0, 4*: 5, 3*: 15, Other: 0

Wide receiver Hunter Rison is already enrolled in school and gives Michigan State a much needed play-maker although they do have some promising ones currently on the roster. Also committed to the Spartans is a good tight end prospect in Matt Dotson. Michigan State has a well-balanced class that should help them get back to the top of the Big Ten.

Top Prospects Signed: OG Kevin Jarvis (4*), LB Antjuan Simmons (4*)

8. Illinois Illini

Commitments: 23, 5*: 0, 4: 2, 3*: 18, Other: 3

Lovie Smith is doing a good job recruiting to build Illinois back up. They focused a lot on signing wide receivers and defense. Ricky Smalling is a good pass-catcher, but they have several other wide receiver commits if he doesn’t pan out. Kendrick Green is gonna help on the trenches of the defensive line at tackle.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Ricky Smalling (4*), OT Larry Boyd (4*)

9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Signees: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 3, 3*: 20, Other: 0

Rutgers might be in the bottom of the Big Ten standings a lot, but their recruiting is getting better. Micah Clark will be a good tackle, with the chance to earn early playing time. Bo Melton should be a good play-maker for the Scarlet Knights at wide receiver, who also could see the field early.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Micah Clark (4*), LB Tyshon Fogg (4*)

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Commitments: 18, 5*: 0, 4*: 4, 3*: 12, Other: 2

It’s not usual to see the Badgers this low in the rankings, but they do have some solid players to look out for. Offensive line is always important to Wisconsin and they have guard Kayden Lyles looking to be the next great lineman for them. Andrew Van Ginkel should help the pass rush as a defensive end down the road.

Top Prospects Signed: OG Kayden Lyles (4*), OT Taylor Breach (4*)

11. Northwestern Wildcats

Commitments: 20, 5*:0, 4*:2, 3*: 17, Other: 1

Northwestern has been a solid program in the Big Ten for the past couple of seasons under Pat Fitzgerald, but they don’t have the greatest recruiting class yet. Earnest Brown and Trevor Kent are a pair of defensive end prospects that should bolster depth on the defensive line immediately.

Top Prospects Signed: DE Earnest Brown (4*), S Austin Hiller (4*)

12. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Commitments: 25, 5*: 0, 4*: 0, 3*: 18, Other: 7

P.J. Fleck has his work cut out for him at Minnesota. They don’t have a lot to work with in this class, but can still add to it. Quarterback Tanner Morgan is the prized recruit at the moment and will love to work with Fleck. Tight end Jacob Paulson will be a nice target for Morgan down the road.

13. Indiana Hoosiers

Commitments: 23, 5*: 0, 4*:1, 3*: 20, Other: 2

Indiana, like Minnesota, has a lot of turmoil in the program with Kevin Wilson being fired abruptly. They did not put together a great recruiting class. Despite the turmoil they have a balanced class of offensive and defensive prospects. Defensive tackle Juan Harris is already enrolled, which should help him see the field early. Linebacker Thomas Allen should help boost an unimpressive defense.

14. Purdue Boilermakers

Commitments: 21, 5*: 0, 4*:0, 3*: 19, Other: 2

Purdue doesn’t seem like they will be able to turn things around any time soon. Corner back T.J. Jallow was a huge win for Purdue and he may just be seen on Last Chance U season 2. They hit the JuCo trail hard and also got offensive tackle Ethan Smart, who also played JuCo ball in Mississippi.

The ACC had a great year for football, which was capped off by a National Championship for the Clemson Tigers. Now it’s time to move over to see how the ACC Signing Day has gone. This will be throughout Signing Day. Here is how the teams rank:

1. Florida State Seminoles

Signees: 21, 5*: 3, 4*: 13, 3*: 5, Other: 0

The Seminoles have a solid class that should remain in the top ten, if not the top five, in the nation. Their class is headed by their two five-stars who are signed. Cam Akers is considered by some to be the best running back in the whole class and Joshua Kaindoh is also considered the number one defensive end in the class by some. Florida State targeted a lot of skill position players with plenty of running backs and wide receivers in the class, as well as secondary players. They are in the running for one more five-star recruit and many more four-star recruits.

2. Clemson Tigers

Signees: 14, 5*: 0, 4*: 11, 3*: 3, Other: 0

Dabo Swinney has a championship and now, likely has a top ten recruiting class. Tee Higgins is the best committed player so far and will remind a lot of Tiger fans of Mike Williams at the wide receiver position. With Higgins, comes a very talented quarterback prospect in Hunter Johnson. The two will look to be the future of Clemson’s offense. Behind them, Clemson made sure to get depth for the trenches, on both the offensive and defensive line. While there are no five-star players considering them, the Tigers do have a lot of four-star prospects who could sign with them.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Hunter Johnson (4*), WR Tee Higgins (4*)

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Signees: 21, 5*: 0, 4*: 11, 3*: 10, Other: 0

Notre Dame needs better players after a lackluster 2016 season. They have done a solid job in recruiting so far and are looking to have a top 15 recruiting class. Brock Wright is a very talented tight end and Robert Hainsey is a great offensive guard. Those two recruits are the two best players the Fighting Irish have signed so far. Although the defense was a major problem last year, Notre Dame has a lot of offensive players signed in this class. There are a lot of standout prospects still considering the Irish, so they have a real chance to move up in the recruiting ranks.

Top Prospects Signed: TE Brock Wright (4*), LB Robert Hainsey (4*)

4. Miami Hurricanes

Signees: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 13, 3*: 11, Other: 0

Miami has a good recruiting class, in large part due to the number of commitments they already have. Defensive end D.J. Johnson is one of the best in the class and quarterback N’kosi Perry will provide an athletic quarterback as the two best commitments. Behind these players Miami has a very diversified class, as Mark Richt tries to fill the roster with his types of players. Richt has a chance to make this class even better by getting uncommitted players to choose the Hurricanes today.

Top Prospects Signed: WR Jeff Thomas (4*), DE D.J. Johnson (4*)

5. North Carolina Tar Heels

Signees: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 8, 3*: 11, Other: 0

Larry Fedora should have the recruits to feel good about his team again heading into the 2017 season. Billy Ross and Jonah Melton are two good offensive line prospects, while Jake Lawler is a good defensive line prospect. The Tar Heels have a well-rounded class, with plenty of players who still may choose to go to school their.

Top Prospects Signed: OT Billy Ross (4*), DE Jake Lawler (4*)

6. Virginia Tech Hokies

Signees: 26, 5*: 0, 4*: 5, 3*: 19, Other: 2

Justin Fuente has put together a pretty good crop of players for his first full recruiting class. With 27 commitments, they have a deep class. Nathan Proctor is their top recruit and plays outside linebacker. Devon Hunter is also a talented safety recruit. Even though they have a lot of players committed, they have more considering becoming a Hokie.

Top Prospects Signed: LB Nathan Proctor (4*), S Devon Hunter (4*)

7. Louisville Cardinals

Signees: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 6, 3*: 13, Other: 1

The Cardinals had an impressive 2016 campaign and need some more talent to help them cap off a season with an ACC Championship. C.J. Avery is a safety who will help out with all of their departures in the secondary. Justin Marshall will be, yet another good target for Lamar Jackson to throw to.

Top Prospects Signed: S C.J. Avery (4*), WR Justin Marshall (4*)

8. Pittsburgh Panthers

Signees: 25, 5*: 0, 4*: 5, 3*: 16, Other: 4

Pittsburgh has a good class for Pat Narduzzi’s second full year of recruiting. The class is led by a great athlete in Paris Ford and a good running back in Todd Sibley. Running back A.J. Davis is confident he can have an instant impact for the Panthers due to being familiar with their blocking schemes. There is a lot of focus on offense in this class, which will be beneficial for Pitt, due to a lot of players moving on to the next level.

Top Prospects Signed: ATH Paris Ford (4*), RB A.J. Davis (4*)

9. Duke Blue Devils

Signees: 23, 5*: 0, 4*: 3, 3*: 19, Other: 1

David Cutcliffe has done wonders with Duke and now has a chance at a top 40 recruiting class to help him in the future. Jake Marwede will be a tight end that may see the field early for the Blue Devils. Safety Drew Jordan and outside linebacker Damani Neal will also have a chance to play next season as incoming freshmen. With a lot of good offensive players in the class, Duke should have good depth for Cutcliffe on at least one side of the ball.

Top Prospects Signed: TE Jake Marwede (4*), LB Drew Jordan (4*)

10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Signees: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 4, 3*: 18, Other: 2

Georgia Tech is coming off a bowl win over Kentucky and will be looking to become ACC Title contenders again soon. They focused on mostly defense in this class, but their best player is offensive. Running back Bruce-Jordan Swilling will look to get a lot of touches in the triple option attack.

11. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Signees: 22, 5*: 0, 4*: 1, 3*: 18, Other: 3

The Wolfpack had a good season last year, but is still looking to make their recruiting class better. Dual-Threat quarterback Matt McKay is their only four-star commitment so far, but he should be a good player at the college level. NC State has several other decent offensive prospects in the class as well.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Matt McKay (4*), LB Louis Acceus (3*)

12. Virginia Cavaliers

Signees: 27, 5*: 0, 4*: 3, 3*: 19, Other: 5

Bronco Mendenhall has put together a solid first recruiting class for the Cavaliers so far. Two four-star athletes lead the recruiting class in Shawn Smith and Germane Crowell. There are a lot of positions represented, but if the Cavaliers want to compete in the future, they need to get some more players on the offensive line.

Top Prospects Signed: ATH Germane Crowell (4*), ATH Shawn Smith (4*)

13. Syracuse Orange

Signees: 24, 5*: 0, 4*: 1, 3*: 19, Other: 4

Syracuse may rank at 13 in the ACC, for now, but they have an average class nationally. Quarterback Tommy Devito is their only four-star, but can be a program changer as a signal caller. He competed in the elite 11 quarterback camp last summer. The Orange have a lot of solid offensive players in the class, as things currently stand.

Top Prospects Signed: QB Tommy Devito (4*), WR Sharod Johnson (3*)

14. Boston College Eagles

Commitments: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 0, 3*: 15, Other: 5

It looks like it will be another year near the bottom of the recruiting ranks for the Eagles. Three-star players C.J. Lewis (QB) and A.J. Dillon (RB) are the best players in the class, but will likely not see the field early on in their careers.

Top Prospects Signed: QB C.J. Lewis (3*), RB A.J. Dillon (3*)

15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Commitments: 20, 5*: 0, 4*: 0, 3*: 17, Other: 3

Wake Forest had a good season on the field in 2016, but that didn’t translate to the recruiting trail. It will be hard to sustain success in the ACC with no four-star players in the class. Michael Allen Jr. has a chance to be a productive player for the Demon Deacons at defensive end.

It’s on the Haus is a daily installment of sports and esports news from the past day. Rather than waiting an entire hour to see the big news on a television program, or come to multiple stories on multiple websites to get your sports fix, It’s on the Haus gives you the biggest sports and esports happenings, all in one place. You may feel guilty for reading this concise article that gives you everything you need to know, but don’t worry, It’s on the Haus.

Get Dumped Then, Oakland and Detroit

The Houston Texans took down the depleted Oakland Raiders 27-14 in the first game of the 2017 NFL Playoffs. I was rooting for the Raiders to pull this one out, hoping Connor Cook would avenge Derek Carr’s broken leg. Of course, whichever team I root for loses in the first round (#WhoDey), so I guess I should’ve rooted for the Fighting Brockweilers, so as to not curse the beautiful and classy Raider fans. Whatever Houston. Have fun getting whipped by whomever you play in the divisional round.

In the second wild-card game of the day, the Seattle Seahawks euthanized the Detroit Lions, 26-6. I don’t recall watching a team die as slowly and miserably as the Lions did. I feel for Lions fans because as much as you want your team to win, sometimes it’s not meant to be.

However, Twitter dot com has shown me how annoying Lions fans are by calling for Matthew Stafford to be named MVP, elite, and savoir of all things good. I retract my previous statement. Just sit there and sulk, Lions fans. Blaming the refs for 20 years of terrible football really fills the void, doesn’t it?

High Schoolers Play Football on National Televisions

Jeffrey Okudah could make an immediate impact next year for Ohio State. (Photo: Eleven Warriors)

The 17th edition of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl was played yesterday afternoon. The East defeated the West, 27-17 and the majority of people who watched the game are older than those that played in it.

Seven All-Americans announced where they intend to attend school this fall, including the number two ranked player in the nation. You can find where each of the seven teenagers decided to attend school and which schools were closest to landing the coveted prospects in this neat table below.

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OT Foster Sarell, No. 2 overall, No. 1 T

Stanford University, over Washington and others

CB Jeffrey Okudah, No. 7 overall, No. 1 CB

Ohio State, over others

CB Darnay Holmes, No. 12 overall, No. 2 CB

UCLA, over Ohio State and others

S Bubba Bolden, No. 55 overall, No. 6 S

USC, over Ohio State, Arizona State, and others

OT Chuck Filiaga, No. 98 overall, No. 14 OT

Michigan, over USC, Oklahoma, and others

RB Eno Benjamin, No. 143 overall, No. 8 RB

Arizona State, over Texas, Iowa, Michigan, and others

WR Jamire Calvin, No. 254 overall, No. 36 WR

Oregon State, over Nebraska and others

East quarterback Hunter Johnson was named the game’s MVP. He threw for 91 yards and one touchdown. Johnson will take his talents to Clemson next season, and sources tell me there’s a job opening at quarterback next season for Clemson.

It is Finished

After two days of speculation, Kyle Korver is officially a Cleveland Cavalier. Cleveland shipped a protected first-round pick to Atlanta and gave away Mo Williams and Mike Dunleavy in the deal. The Cavs also gave away this year’s first-round pick to Portland for their 2018 first round pick in order to make the deal work.

This seems like a good deal for Cleveland, but LeBron James is still not impressed. King James demands a backup point guard, so it looks like Cavs general manager David Griffin still has some work to do. Either way, with all the weapons already in Cleveland, “Kyle Korver” and “splashes a wide open three” should be paired together a lot as Korver becomes accustomed to his new offense.

I’m supremely convinced that this move was made to replace the GOAT of all GOATS, Joe Harris. Harris averaged a modest yet respectable 2.7 points per game last season for the Cavs, before suffering a broken foot that ended his season. Harris is now averaging 8.9 points per game with the Nets, showing he’s clearly a spectacular player.

I could easily drop 40 points with a 66 overall Joe Harris on any scumbag who tries to front me on NBA 2K, so don’t test me. His range is legit, and his heart just won’t quit.

He Indefinitely Tripped Him

Grayson Allen (maybe) tripped another player in his first game back from his one-game suspension, which came about for tripping players. Take a look at this footage (ha, get it?), and decide for yourself.

Grayson Allen is doing a great job of reinforcing Duke basketball stereotypes. Rather than slapping the floor on defense and diving for loose balls like any white basketball player should, Allen cries like a preppy white-collar teen. I’m convinced Grayson Allen will not rest until he kills a man via tripping, so yeah, he tripped the poor soul.

Hey, Grayson Allen, just stop that.

You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Tim!

We decided a couple of weeks ago that we wanted to do a Thanksgiving piece and give our readers a chance to get to know us a little better! Below are some of the staff members of TGH telling you all what they are thankful for this holiday season. From Our Haus to Yours, have a very happy Game Haus Thanksgiving!

Jared MacAdam- Head of Esports: Well, I’ll go first, being the only Canadian and my Thanksgiving has passed quite some time ago. I’m thankful for the way this site has grown since its inception, how many great writers we’ve had and all the awesome content we’ve produced. I’m also immensely thankful for the way esports has matured in the past year; we’re seeing leaps and strides in key areas like players well being and stability. It’s an exciting thing to experience and to have a little part in. I’m also thankful for all the weirdos in the Front Office who lovingly mock my Canadianisms.

Josh Burris – Editor: I am thankful for sports. I am a proud Cleveland fan and with the exception of the Browns, good things are happening with our teams. I’m thankful I got to see a Cleveland team win a title. I am also thankful for my family and friendships I have at home, school, and from this site.

Ryan Moran – CFO: I am thankful for family, friends, and football. I am also thankful to be working for TGH and to belong to such an exciting community of sports and esports. I am also thankful of the unifying power of sports and their ability to bring anybody together win or lose.

Tim Miller – Vice President: Of course, when talking about being thankful, I have to be thankful for the opportunity to help lead The Game Haus. I’m also thankful to root for the mighty Ohio State Buckeye football team, and that Marvin Lewis should get fired after this year. I’m also thankful for a loving family and loving girlfriend. Finally, I’m thankful to live in a great country with freedoms like no other (no matter how you feel currently), and to go to a solid, christian university in Cedarville University.

Robert Hanes- President: While these last 365 days have been some of the most challenging times in my life, I can say that I have so many things to be grateful for. To start, everyone here at The Game Haus. These people are incredible, as you can read in their paragraphs of what they are thankful for. They have all gone through many things and have worked their butts off while working here. So thank you to all of the Front Office Members, Writers, Podcasters, and League Team Members! I am also very thankful for my friends. They have helped me through some tough times throughout the last year and I do not know where I would be without them. The same can be said for my Father, Mother and Sister. They have been my rocks as I have struggled many times this year. Lastly I am thankful to God and his son, while it sounds cheesy I know they have been with me every step of the way. From Our Haus to Yours, thank you and have a wonderful holiday season!

Terrance Singleton- Social Media Director: I am thankful for the life God has given me. Every time the holiday season comes around I think about how easily I couldn’t be here. My grandfather died on November 19, 2010 right before Thanksgiving. And I was in a pretty bad car accident on December 27, 2012 that broke my neck and cut my scalp open. So every time the holiday season rolls around I always think about how precious life, family, friends, and faith are important in my life and everyone’s life. So on this Thanksgiving when you are watching NFL football games and eating food until you can’t move, tell your loved ones how much you love them because tomorrow is not promised.

Dylan Streibig- NFL Writer: Whether we realize it or not, we all have a lot to be thankful for. I am no exception this Thanksgiving or any other year. I am thankful to have a roof over my head and a family that loves me. I am grateful for the fantastic sporting events that go on all around the world. They provide me a momentary escape from my life with a physical disability. I am also thankful for my dog and the fact that I am now a published sports writer thanks to The Game Haus. Most of all, I am thankful for the loyalty of my close friends who do not give up on me, even when I give up on myself.

Matthew Hagan- Columnist: I’m thankful for the opportunity The Game Haus has presented me with. Writing about my favorite sport, football, and offering me a column has been one of the best things in my life. I am thankful to have parents, family and friends support while trying to get a degree in college. My mom has been the biggest reason I have made it this far and I am so thankful that I get to fly back to Vegas to spend Thanksgiving with her. I am also thankful I got to see the Cubs win a World Series and attend the victory parade in Chicago. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I am thankful for all the opportunities I have had in this amazing country. I am proud to be an American and this Thanksgiving is going to be one of the best ever. Thank you to everyone who reads my articles, weather you agree or disagree with them. I want to wish anyone who reads this, and anyone who may not, a safe, fun and amazing Thanksgiving.

Alex Keller- Recruitment and Retention: What am I thankful for? Where can I even begin… I guess it would have to be with my family and friends. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today if not for their love and support. But it’s so much more than that… the opportunity to even attend an institution like Georgia Tech, let alone graduate from it is an experience I’m incredibly thankful for. And of course, I have to thank everyone who’s been a part of making my experience with TGH so awesome. So, from our haus to yours, have a Happy Game Haus Thanksgiving everybody.

Whether the increasing amount of lawsuits filed against the NFL for traumatic brain injuries or critics of football exposing more of its brutal nature amass more attention, one must begin to wonder if tackling in football has seen its run.

We should first ask ourselves what we love about football and if we can still have those components in a non-tackling league. Or, if there is no tackling, is there a proper substitute that will still shoot the same adrenaline down our spines, without the body-bashing injuries?

Pain in football is inevitable; ask any football player from any level and they will tell you. They’ll also say that they always play with pain, but never with injury. Sure there are several useful precautions one can take when playing football – keep your head up, low man wins, maintain grounded footwork – but the reality is that even technique can’t compensate for that one false step, that one mishap, that lands you on the ground withering in agony.

Just ask former Steeler and Redskins wide receiver, Antwaan Randel El, who played eight years in the NFL. “I have to come down (the stairs) sideways sometimes,” he said. “I ask my wife over and over again and she’s like ‘I just told you that.”

And on the inevitable collisions Randel El adds, “There’s no correcting it. There’s no helmet that’s going to correct it. There’s no teaching that’s going to correct it. It just comes down to it’s a physically violent game. Football players are in a car wreck every week.”

The question remains: What if we eliminated tackling from football? I have wondered from time to time what the sport would be like if this limitation were imposed. Would football still be fun? How would the strategy of the game change? I’ll take a shot at both questions.

Yes, football would still be fun in a non-tackling league. When I think about what I enjoy most about football, head bashing and getting the wind knocked out of me are pretty low on the list. Throughout my four years of just High School football I suffered a sprained wrist, sprained ankle, fractured finger and at least one concussion (I say “at least” one because there were several instances in which I was hit in the head hard, but was unable to make the distinction between a concussion and just another big hit). Those forgotten injury statistics don’t include the couple of times I was hit so hard that I literally saw colors.

Instead, what makes the game fun and exciting is the passing, the receiving, the running, the intercepting, the fumble recovering, the kicking, the returning, the comradery, the celebrating, and most of all, the friendships. Football is the ultimate team sport; the linemen block for the quarterback, who passes the ball to a receiver, while the defense rushes the passer and communicates coverage and blitz responsibilities. As with any players in team sports, football players improve their teamwork skills, become more disciplined workers, and establish a brotherly bond with one another. Perhaps these advantages to playing can still hold true if the game were touch football.

The strategy of offensive and defensive schemes would most likely alter in the passing game. Assuming there would be no need for pads, receivers would feel fleet-footed and lighter. Passing patterns would stretch the field, players would be better able to make quicker cuts, and the concern of coming out of the game from exhaustion would abate. After all, football pads, helmets, and gear can add as much as 15 to 25 pounds to one player’s load.

As far as the running game is concerned, the existence of running plays will depend on blocking. It should be no shocker that linemen are the ones in the worst physical shape when they’re conditioned to bulk up and gain weight to either block or evade blocks. I suppose the manner in which linemen block would have to change and become more…gentle? But remember, ruling a player down is still no easy task in touch football – athletes are shifty! This is why flag football is a useful alternative to the current state of football – you can still run the ball outside and you’re ruled down when a defender grabs your flag, which is not easy.

My point is that football would still be a unique, creative, enjoyable sport if the tackling aspect were removed.

Despite playing multiple positions as a receiver, return man and quarterback, Randel El also admitted his regret without hesitation. “If I could go back, I wouldn’t. I would play baseball. I got drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round, but I didn’t play baseball…Don’t get me wrong, I love the game of football. But, right now, I could still be playing baseball.”

Randel El is also worried about the devastating injuries, and sometimes deaths, associated with High School players. “The kids are getting bigger and faster, so the concussions, the severe spinal cord injuries, are only going to get worse,” he said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow because I love the game of football. But I tell parents, you can have the right helmet, the perfect pads on, and still end up with a paraplegic kid.” Last year alone fifteen High School players lost their life playing the game they loved. These young men are being robbed of their futures.

Evan Murray, the 17 year old Quarterback at Warren Hills High, looks onto the field for what would be his last game before passing away from a lacerated spleen.

More evidence looms as time goes by, not necessarily for the end of football, but for a call to change in violent football culture.

Down in the small town of Chillicothe, Ohio, just off the highway, there sits a school that holds the only Tank mascot in the country. That’s high school, college, or pro. For four years this is where I played my high school football, my final season being just last year. But this isn’t about my playing history.

It’s about an unfair system that needs to be changed.

You see, Unioto High School has had football for 52 complete seasons. And in 52 complete seasons, the Sherman Tanks have never been to the football playoffs.

That’s not to say there haven’t been some good seasons. In 1967, the U went 10-0. In 1981 they went 9-1 with their only loss coming on a failed fourth and goal play late in the fourth quarter. They got in neither of those years.

But the biggest travesty may have been 2014, when I was a junior and eight teams from each region got to go to the playoffs. We went 8-2. But we could have gone 9-1, it still would not have been enough to get in over the two 7-3 teams that came in seventh and eighth or even the 6-4 teams that were ninth and tenth.

Why? Because the OHSAA bases their divisional alignments solely on the male student body attending a school. We have 229 boys attending our high school, good for division four of seven in the state. Do you know how many of those boys play football? 29. That’s 13 percent participation, and I think most will agree not nearly enough players to compete with top end D-IV schools. But a D-VI school just up the road from us draws a participation of 43 percent with 52 out of 121 boys (numbers from OHSAA.org and chillicothegazette.com). And they beat us consistently, one of the reasons being the greater number of people to rotate in for fresh bodies.

Why don’t we draw a lot of numbers to our football team? Some of it is laziness, but a lot of it has to do with the dominance of our other sports programs. We’ve won our conference all-sports banner 22 of the last 24 years. Our golf, cross country, basketball, and track programs dominate like Ohio State playing in the MAC. In my class the last four years, a ton of great receivers played cross country, three elite defensive backs played soccer, a lineman played golf, and another top-flight receiver decided to “focus on basketball”. Paint Valley, the school I mentioned from earlier, is dead last every fall in both golf and cross country. There’s nothing else for top athletes to do when the leaves change if they want to be a part of a winning program.

The other thing that makes this system flawed is the way the playoffs are scored by computers. Points stem from the divisional placements of the teams you beat and the teams they beat. So if you are stuck in a conference playing teams with student population densities the levels of which Alaska would be disappointed with (which can still turn out good teams when the kids actually come out) you can have a great season and get Lance Armstronged in the computer points.

In 2015, 8-2 Logan of Division II finished in tenth place while Lake at 6-4 finished in sixth place to get into the playoffs in Region five. In Region nine (division III), three different 7-3 schools finished behind Bishop Watterson for the final seed of eight. And in division IV’s Region eleven, 5-5 Ursuline finished fifth while 8-2 Firelands scraped by in eighth, yet 7-3 teams Streetsboro and Field missed the postseason (thanks to joeeitel.com for those rankings).

Quality of opponent should matter, yes. But does it account for two, even three games difference in record? No. If a team goes 8-2 and misses the playoffs they should be in a lower division, end of story. That isn’t right.

So, since this is just a rant without any proposal for a solution to the problem, here is what I think the division calculation system should look like:

42.5 percent based on male student body (this should still be the number one factor due to a larger talent pool, but it should not be the only factor)

32.5 percent based on average roster size over the previous five seasons (actual numbers, but not the largest factor since greater numbers don’t always equal greater talent)

15 percent based on playoff appearances in the last ten seasons (if a school is never making the playoffs, they are in too high a division)

10 percent based on the competition a school typically plays (this will help level the playing field of potential points for teams, but it should be the smallest factor with the smallest direct effect on team quality).

Does this sound complicated? Yes, but anything done right takes time to compute.

The other thing I like about this system is that it allows for more fluctuation between divisions, as you move up when you improve your overall team quality instead of when your school gets bigger. Some may argue that as a bad thing, but the greatest systems in the world are successful due to their ability to change with the times. I would point to the United State Constitution as a governmental example.

Is my system perfect? No. No system is, and I’m sure there’s a much better way to align schools than some biased eighteen year old’s angry musings. But there is definitely a way better system out there than what is currently in place.

The conference of champions needs to have more success in football championships and will be able to do so with good recruiting this season. Pac-12 rivalries are being restored and renewed based on good recruiting. So grab your popcorn for the next few years because USC, UCLA, Oregon and Stanford will all be at the top of the Pac-12 for the next few years. Here are the Pac-12 rankings:

Defensive end Oluwole Betiku can be as successful as Leonard Williams at USC. Photo courtesy todaysu.com.

USC- 4 stars- 13, 3 stars- 4, Total 18

USC doesn’t have that many players signed, but has plenty of good four stars that carry their class. Clay Helton has a great first recruiting class for the Trojans.

Defensively two players are going to be instant play-makers. Defensive end Oluwole Betiku will get some playing time, especially in pass rushing situations. Safety Jamel Cook is six foot four inches tall and can provide a great strong safety for the Trojans immediately. Corner back Jackie Jones will likely need to wait at least a year to get significant playing time, but has the potential to be a star.

USC got a great quarterback in this class in Matt Fink, who still needs to grow into his frame. The Trojans got three great receivers for their future. High school teammates Tyler Vaughns and Trevon Sidney will join the class along with Josh Imatorbhebhe. The offensive tackle that could have an impact immediately is E.J. Price out of Georgia.

Quarterback K.J. Costello is following in the footsteps of Andrew Luck by going to Stanford. Photo courtesy pe.com.

Stanford- 4 stars- 9, 3 stars- 15, Total 26

David Shaw will again compete in the Pac-12 North with help from this recruiting class. The Cardinal have recruiting restrictions with who they can recruit because of their academic standards, which makes this class more impressive.

The offense has Christian McCaffrey and needs players around him for the next season or two. Quarterback K.J. Costello is one of the best pocket-passing quarterbacks in the country and is more than capable of taking over for Kevin Hogan who graduated. Stanford signed one of the best tight ends in the country, Kaden Smith, who will fit in with The Cardinal’s pro-style offense. Offensive tackle Clark Yarbrough will come in and compete for a job early to block for McCaffrey.

The Cardinal have gotten a great recruit on every level of the defense, which they needed. Cornerback Treyjohn Butler could be the best defensive back that Shaw has ever had when it is all said and done. Curtis Robinson is a linebacker that will at the very least provide depth for the Cardinal in his first season, but could do more. Defensive tackle Mike Williams already has the size to start in the trenches for Stanford at 305 pounds. All three players have the potential to play a lot in their freshman seasons.

Jim Mora has been great as the head coach of the Bruins and is recruiting very well. They will be competing with USC for the Pac-12 south for plenty of years to come.

The Bruins have lost a lot of good linebackers in the past couple of years in Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr and Myles Jack, but have reloaded by signing Mique Juarez, Lokeni Toailoa and Krystopher Barnes, who all could compete for playing time early. Defensive end Breland Brandt is a talented player out of Los Angeles, who needs to put on some weight, but is very promising. Safety Brandon Burton will join a secondary that has plenty of good depth.

Running back Damian Alloway is a small running back, but has a four-star rating and can be a good fit for UCLA’s spread system. Wide receivers Audie Omotosho and Theo Howard will be good targets for Josh Rosen for the next couple of years.

Terry Wilson is a perfect fit to run Oregon’s offense. Photo courtesy omaha.com.

Oregon- 4 stars- 4, 3- stars 14, Total 19

Mark Helfrich has kept bringing great players to Eugene for the Ducks. Oregon is going nowhere in the Pac-12 championship picture any time soon.

The next great Oregon quarterback is Terry Wilson, who may start next season given his dual-threat ability. Four-star athlete Tristen Wallace played quarterback in high school, but will likely play another position on Oregon’s offense.

The defense got a lot of good front seven depth in this class. Defensive ends Bryson Young and Hunter Kampmoyer will provide good defensive line depth for the Ducks. Linebackers Darrian Franklin and LaMar Winston Jr. have chances to grow into stars for Oregon.

Arizona State- 4 stars- 9, 3- stars 9, Total 18

Arizona State had a disappointing season in 2015, but has a good recruiting class to build with for next season. Todd Graham has continued his great recruiting, which has built Arizona State into a solid program.

The Sun Devils have one of the best receiving prospects in the country signed in N’keal Harry, who will be the best receiver they have had since Jaelen Strong. They will have a better offensive line thanks to Cohl Cabral who is a four-star center. Dillon Sterling-Cole is a god four-star sign for the Sun Devils and he will be the quarterback of the future. Running backs Chase Lucas and Tre Turner may have to wait to get on the field, but will provide good backfield depth for Arizona State.

On defense, the Sun Devils have loaded up on JUCO prospects to fill holes in their defense. They have two JUCO defensive ends, Dougladson Subtyl and Christian Hill, should see the field early for Arizona State. Two JUCO cornerbacks, Maurice Chandler and J’Marcus Rhodes, also have a chance to fight for playing time early in their time in Tempe.

Washington- 4 stars- 8, 3 stars- 9, Total 18

Chris Petersen has a great recruiting class coming in for his second season as head coach of the Huskies. He will have Washington at the top of the Pac-12 if he keeps on recruiting like this.

The players that will have the most impact on the defensive side of the ball in this class are cornerback Byron Murphy, linebacker Camilo Eifler, Safety Taylor Rapp and potentially athlete Isaiah Gilchrist.

Two running backs and a receiver highlight the offensive commits for Washington. Brandon Wellington is a running back from Washington, who is an all-purpose back. Sean McGrew is more of a third down back, but could see more playing time if he produces. Four-star wide receiver Jordan Chin weighs 149 pounds and stands at six feet, so he will need to put on weight before he can reach his full potential.

Utah- 4 stars- 3, 3 stars- 24, Total 29

Kyle Whittingham has gotten Utah to compete in the Pac-12, but needs to continue to recruit well to get over the edge for a Pac-12 Championship. Utah has loaded up on offense in this recruiting class to replace Travis Wilson and Devontae Booker.

JUCO offensive tackle Garett Bolles is one of the best tackle prospects in the country and will start from day one if he lives up to expectations. They have two different dual-threat quarterbacks coming in, three quality running backs, three wide receivers and more on the offensive side of the ball for this recruiting class.

The best player in the class defensively is JUCO linebacker David Luafatasaga, who will most likely start for the Utes.

Cal- 4 stars- 3, 3 stars- 19, Total 23

Sonny Dykes may lose Jared Goff this offseason, but he has a decent recruiting class coming in.

Athlete Melquise Stovall is short in stature, but can be the swiss army knife of the Cal offense in coming years. He may play a little running back and receiver, much like De’anthony Thomas at Oregon a few years ago. They got another good offensive weapon in wide receiver Jordan Duncan out of Mississippi. Guard Dwayne Wallace, out of JUCO, is good enough to start next season for Cal.

The Golden Bears got two corners that are the best players in this class defensively. Nygel Edmonds and Camryn Bynum look like they could be a great corner tandem for Cal down the road.

Oregon State- 4 stars- 3, 3 stars- 21, Total 25

Gary Anderson gets his first full year of recruiting kicked off pretty well for the Oregon State Beavers. His main focus was on the defensive side of the ball, because their offense is still young and can improve.

The best player for the Beavers in this class is safety Shurod Thompson, who will get a chance to start immediately for a team that struggled defensively. Defensive ends Isaac Garcia and Phillip Napoleon will also get a chance to play early in their careers to help the bad Oregon State defense. Athlete Christian Wallace can play multiple positions and has a chance to see the field early.

The Beavers also got athlete Christian Wallace who could fill in a lot of holes on the depth chart for the offense or defense.

Arizona- 4 stars- 5, 3 stars- 13, Total 22

Arizona doesn’t have the best class in the Pac-12, but they do have some talented players for Rich Rodriguez to work with.

Rodriguez got a lot of offensive line help in this class. Keenan Walker and Michael Eletsie are both good enough to play next season. The Wildcats also may have found their quarterback of the future in dual-threat Khalil Tate, out of California.

Defensively Arizona got inside linebacker Kahi Neves, form Utah, who has the ideal size and weight for a college linebacker already at six foot four inches and 233 pounds. They also have a commitment from the JUCO ranks in Josh Allen, who will help the defense immediately.

Washington State- 4 stars- 1, 3 stars- 22, Total 28

Washington State just had their best season in a long time, but don’t have a great recruiting class to keep the momentum going. Mike Leach is a coach who is known to get the most out of the talent he does get, so he will find a way to make these players successful.

Their four-star recruit is wide receiver Isaiah Johnson, from Florida, which is good for the Cougars, who run the air-raid offense. Another player who will get playing time in their first season is linebacker Chima Onyeukwu from Junior College. Washington State did a great job recruiting California and will need to continue to do so in the future to compete in the Pac-12.

Colorado- 3 stars- 14, Total 17

Colorado does not have an encouraging class coming in to help them compete in the coming years. Mike MacIntyre is 10-27 in his tenure with Colorado and needs this class to overachieve to help him out.

The Buffaloes loaded up on offense at the top of their class. The best player that Colorado got is one of the best fullbacks in the country, Beau Bisharat, who could play halfback if it is needed. Quarterback Sam Noyer, out of Oregon, was a big score for Colorado. They also got wide receiver Kabion Ento, from Junior College, who could provide some instant impact.